US4676644A - Device for monitoring the thickness of thin layers - Google Patents
Device for monitoring the thickness of thin layers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4676644A US4676644A US06/673,075 US67307584A US4676644A US 4676644 A US4676644 A US 4676644A US 67307584 A US67307584 A US 67307584A US 4676644 A US4676644 A US 4676644A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cube
- layer
- electrical signal
- converter
- signal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
- G01B11/02—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness
- G01B11/06—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness for measuring thickness ; e.g. of sheet material
- G01B11/0616—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness for measuring thickness ; e.g. of sheet material of coating
- G01B11/0641—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness for measuring thickness ; e.g. of sheet material of coating with measurement of polarization
- G01B11/065—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness for measuring thickness ; e.g. of sheet material of coating with measurement of polarization using one or more discrete wavelengths
Definitions
- This invention concerns an optoelectronic device for monitoring the thickness of a thin film or layer during an etching or deposition process.
- This provides a reflected beam, sent to a reference photocell, and a transmitted beam which is directed to a measuring photocell after reflecting off the sample thin layer and again reflecting off the splitter.
- Such a device presents the disadvantage of utilizing only a fraction of the light emitted by the laser source, only half of the laser light being transmitted through the mirror and only half of the beam reflected from the layer being reflected toward the measuring cell, so that only a quarter of the light emitter by the laser is utilized for measurement purposes.
- One object of the present invention is to provide a device using virtually all of the light emitted by the laser, thus increasing the sensitivity of the device.
- Another object of the invention is to combine two devices of the type just described, in order to provide a two-station thin layer thickness measuring device.
- the invention provides a device for monitoring the thickness of a low-absorption thin layer on an at least partially reflecting substrate, placed in a vacuum chamber closed with a window, and including all of the following features:
- a polarizing cube placed in the path of the laser beam, consisting of two right angle prisms assembled by their hypotenuse faces by means of a dielectric film, said cube being oriented so that the incident laser beam has an angle of incidence of 45° with said film, said cube allowing a first part of the incident beam to pass into a first, linear optoelectronic converter delivering a first electrical signal, said cube reflecting a second part of the incident beam which goes through a quarter-wave plate, is reflected by the layer, and then passes again through the cube without being deflected to be directed to a second optoelectronic converter supplying a second electrical signal proportional to the luminuous flux received thereby,
- said quarter-wave plate is the window plate itself.
- an optical calibrator is placed beneath said chamber window to render the unit photometric.
- Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for simultaneously monitoring two thin layers, each disposed on a stand placed inside an enclosure, said device wherein the following features are provided:
- a polarized laser with, in the path of the laser beam, a parallel-sided plate with sides oriented to 45°, a polarizing cube made of two right-angle prisms assembled by their hypotenuse faces by means of a dielectric film, said cube being oriented so that the laster beam strikes said film at an incident angle of 45°, and a first linear optoelectronic converter supplying a first electrical signal, the first thin layer being disposed in the path of the beam reflected by the plate, a second converter being disposed in the path of the beam reflected by said first layer and supplying a second electrical signal, the second thin layer being disposed in the path of the beam reflected by the cube, with a quarter-wave plate therebetween, a third converter being disposed in the path of the beam reflected by the second layer and supplying a third electrical signal,
- At least one of the quarter-wave plates is a plate of a chamber window.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a thin layer thickness monitoring device.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a device for simultaneously monitoring the thickness of two thin layers.
- item 1 is a chamber containing the part to be etched, placed on a stand 2, said part comprising a substrate 3A and a layer 3B.
- a high frequency generator 5 sets up a plasma-generating voltage between the stand 2 and the wall of the chamber (or alternatively between the stand and an electrode).
- the chamber is provided with a window 7.
- a pump unit 4 provides a suitable vacuum inside the chamber.
- a monochromatic light source 8 such as a helium-neon laser, emits a light beam. If the laser source does not provide a polarized light, a polarizer 9 is placed in the path of the light beam. The width of the beam is adjusted by an optical expander 11.
- a polarization cube 13 consisting of two right angle prisms 13A and 13B joined by their hypotenuse faces by means of a dielectric film 13C, is placed in the incident beam such that the angle of incidence with the film 13C equals 45°.
- the reflected beam is directed to layer 3B after going through window 7.
- the latter window is advantageously a quarter-wave plate. If such is not the case, a quarter-wave plate 7A is inserted between the window 7 and the cube 13.
- the beam reflected by layer 3B goes back through the cube and with virtually no losses strikes a second linear optoelectronic converter 15B, which supplies an electrical signal I e .
- Linear optoelectronic converters 15A and 15B are preferably photoconductive or photovoltaic diodes.
- I o and I be the intensities of the light beams striking converters 15A and 15B, these intensities are converted to proportional electrical signals I oe and I e .
- the value of signal D is compared with two values and when D stays within these two values for a given amount of time (for example for 7 to 8 seconds), it means that the layer to be etched away has been completely etched.
- the device's sensitivity can be augmented by a factor of slightly less than 4.
- the sensitivity can be easily adjusted by placing an adjustable polarizer 16 in the path of the beam striking converter 15B.
- the device is calibrated by means of a calibrator 12 placed beneath the window.
- FIG. 2 shows a device making it possible to monitor the thicknesses of two layers simultaneously, using a single laser source.
- Two layers 31A and 32A and their respective substrates 31B and 32B are disposed on a stand 20 which is placed into a vacuum chamber 10 having two windows 70 and 71.
- a pump unit 40 provides a suitable vacuum in the chamber; a generator 50 sets up the voltage required to create the plasma.
- a laser 80 associated with an expander 110 and, optionally, a polarizer 90, directs a beam onto a parallel-sided plate 200 aligned with a polarizing cube 130.
- the laser beam is partly reflected to layer 31A and after reflecting thereon, the light again goes through plate 200 and strikes an optoelectronic converter 151 which emits a signal I e1 .
- the part of the beam which passed through plate 200 without deflecting reaches the cube 130 which passes part of it to an optoelectronic converter 150 (signal I oe ) and reflects another part of it to layer 32A, said latter part thereafter reflecting to another optoelectronic converter 152 (signal I e2 ).
- Window 72 is a quarter-wave plate. Altenatively, a quarter-wave plate 72A can be inserted in the beam path.
- the intensity of the beam striking converter 152 can be adjusted with a variable polarizer 160.
- Signals I oe , I e1 , and I e2 are electrically processed as previously indicated.
- the device just described enables simultaneous processing of two layers, using a single laser and a single plasma chamber, with the same sensitivity as is available from the prior art.
- a lengthener (an afocal reducer or expander) 210 which may be adjustable or not, can be disposed between the plate 200 and the cube 130 to facilitate intensity adjustments of the light beams.
- Calibrators 121, 122 placed near the windows also serve to calibrate luminous intensities.
- the invention finds application in the field of electronic circuits manufacturing.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
- Drying Of Semiconductors (AREA)
- Physical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR8318486A FR2555308B1 (en) | 1983-11-21 | 1983-11-21 | PHOTOMETRIC HEAD AND APPLICATIONS TO THIN FILM THICKNESS CONTROL DEVICES |
FR8318486 | 1983-11-21 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US4676644A true US4676644A (en) | 1987-06-30 |
Family
ID=9294331
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/673,075 Expired - Fee Related US4676644A (en) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-11-19 | Device for monitoring the thickness of thin layers |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4676644A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0142823A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS60132327A (en) |
FR (1) | FR2555308B1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4949345A (en) * | 1989-06-30 | 1990-08-14 | Microelectronics And Computer Technology Corporation | Method and apparatus for reducing the effect of random polarization on the power/energy output of lasers |
US4972072A (en) * | 1988-10-03 | 1990-11-20 | Tritec Industries, Inc. | System for detecting a film layer on an object |
US5277747A (en) * | 1992-09-15 | 1994-01-11 | Bell Communications Research, Inc. | Extraction of spatially varying dielectric function from ellipsometric data |
EP1158291A1 (en) * | 2000-05-26 | 2001-11-28 | Société de production et de recherches appliquées | Ellipsometric metrology method and apparatus for samples contained in a chamber or the like |
US20070110372A1 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2007-05-17 | Finisar Corporation | Optoelectronic Package |
US20130243971A1 (en) * | 2012-03-14 | 2013-09-19 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Apparatus and Process for Atomic Layer Deposition with Horizontal Laser |
US20170205305A1 (en) * | 2016-01-19 | 2017-07-20 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | Gravity-based light pressure calibrating device and corresponding method |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19548036C2 (en) * | 1995-12-21 | 1999-09-09 | Wagner Gmbh J | Method and device for non-destructive testing of workpieces |
WO1997037379A1 (en) * | 1996-04-03 | 1997-10-09 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | In-situ sensor for the measurement of deposition on etching chamber walls |
CN101803483B (en) | 2007-09-11 | 2012-10-24 | 味之素株式会社 | Process for producing multilayer printed wiring board |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4367044A (en) * | 1980-12-31 | 1983-01-04 | International Business Machines Corp. | Situ rate and depth monitor for silicon etching |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2229323A5 (en) * | 1973-01-11 | 1974-12-06 | Saint Gobain | |
JPS5255864A (en) * | 1975-11-04 | 1977-05-07 | Toshiba Corp | Dry etching device |
US4171910A (en) * | 1977-04-20 | 1979-10-23 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Retroreflectance measurement system |
JPS55157233A (en) * | 1979-05-28 | 1980-12-06 | Hitachi Ltd | Method and apparatus for monitoring etching |
JPS6058793B2 (en) * | 1980-03-24 | 1985-12-21 | 日電アネルバ株式会社 | Plasma spectroscopic monitoring device |
JPS57131039A (en) * | 1981-02-07 | 1982-08-13 | Olympus Optical Co Ltd | Defect detector |
-
1983
- 1983-11-21 FR FR8318486A patent/FR2555308B1/en not_active Expired
-
1984
- 1984-11-15 EP EP84113791A patent/EP0142823A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1984-11-19 US US06/673,075 patent/US4676644A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1984-11-20 JP JP59245855A patent/JPS60132327A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4367044A (en) * | 1980-12-31 | 1983-01-04 | International Business Machines Corp. | Situ rate and depth monitor for silicon etching |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
Bennett et al., "SElective and Directional Etching of Polysilicon and WSi2 ", IBM Tech. Disclos. Bull., vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 33-34, 6/82. |
Bennett et al., SElective and Directional Etching of Polysilicon and WSi 2 , IBM Tech. Disclos. Bull., vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 33 34, 6/82. * |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4972072A (en) * | 1988-10-03 | 1990-11-20 | Tritec Industries, Inc. | System for detecting a film layer on an object |
US4949345A (en) * | 1989-06-30 | 1990-08-14 | Microelectronics And Computer Technology Corporation | Method and apparatus for reducing the effect of random polarization on the power/energy output of lasers |
US5277747A (en) * | 1992-09-15 | 1994-01-11 | Bell Communications Research, Inc. | Extraction of spatially varying dielectric function from ellipsometric data |
EP1158291A1 (en) * | 2000-05-26 | 2001-11-28 | Société de production et de recherches appliquées | Ellipsometric metrology method and apparatus for samples contained in a chamber or the like |
FR2809491A1 (en) * | 2000-05-26 | 2001-11-30 | Production Rech S Appliquees | ELLIPSOMETRIC METROLOGY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLE CONTAINED IN A CHAMBER OR THE LIKE |
US6687002B2 (en) | 2000-05-26 | 2004-02-03 | Societe De Production Et De Recherches Appliquees | Method and apparatus for ellipsometric metrology for a sample contained in a chamber or the like |
US20070110372A1 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2007-05-17 | Finisar Corporation | Optoelectronic Package |
WO2007056776A2 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2007-05-18 | Finisar Corporation | An optoelectronic package |
WO2007056776A3 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2008-05-02 | Finisar Corp | An optoelectronic package |
US7505501B2 (en) | 2005-11-14 | 2009-03-17 | Finisar Corporation | Optoelectronic package |
US20130243971A1 (en) * | 2012-03-14 | 2013-09-19 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Apparatus and Process for Atomic Layer Deposition with Horizontal Laser |
US20170205305A1 (en) * | 2016-01-19 | 2017-07-20 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | Gravity-based light pressure calibrating device and corresponding method |
US10378990B2 (en) * | 2016-01-19 | 2019-08-13 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | Gravity-based light pressure calibrating device and corresponding method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0142823A2 (en) | 1985-05-29 |
EP0142823A3 (en) | 1985-07-03 |
FR2555308A1 (en) | 1985-05-24 |
JPS60132327A (en) | 1985-07-15 |
FR2555308B1 (en) | 1986-12-05 |
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Legal Events
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Owner name: SOCIETE ANONYME DITE COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE DES TE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CANTELOUP, JEAN;REEL/FRAME:004689/0226 Effective date: 19850107 Owner name: SOCIETE ANONYME DITE COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE DES TE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CANTELOUP, JEAN;REEL/FRAME:004689/0226 Effective date: 19850107 |
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Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
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Year of fee payment: 4 |
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REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
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FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |